Gas producer



H. F. SMITH GAS PRODUCER Nov. 18, 1930.

Original Filed Jan. 30, 1922 INVENTOR.

I I I .5115 I450 1 v i 76 I a f)? m Y B A TTORNEYS.

meme Nov. 1a, ieae urrn rates rarsur orrics may 1?. smi'rn, onnarron,OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE ens nnsnanon conramr, or narrow, care, ACORPORATION or OHIO GAS PRODUCER Original application filed January 30,1922.,"Serial flo. 532,724. Divided and this application filed December10, 192;.

This invention relates to gas generation,

and more particularly to the generation of I as is adapted for thegeneration of gas for domestic use,-which is simple and cheap in itsconstruction, and efiicient in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a small size producer withmeans for cutting down. the heat losses during operation.

Other objects and advantages ofthe invention will be apparent from thedescription thereof set out below when taken in connection with theaccompanying drawing,

This is a division of the copending applica tion of Harry F. Smith,Serial No. 532,724, filed January 30, 1922, now Patent No. 1,- 724,525,dated August 13, 1929.

In the drawing, in which like characters of reference designate likeparts throughout the several views thereof:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through a form of gas producer; anda Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of still another modified form ofproducer.

The producers heretofore in general use have, ordinarily, run in size inexcess of twenty-five horsepower, most of them running several hundredhorsepower and some of them several thousand horsepower. The producersshown in the drawing and described herein, are, however, primarilydesigned for the lfurnishing of gas for domestic or home use, and are ofconsiderably smaller size than those heretofore in general use. Wherethese producers are designated, therefore, as being of small size it ismeant that they are normally of less than twenty-five horsepower, andgenerally of from three to ten horsepower. Or to illustrate in anotherway, the grate diameter ofxthe producers heretofore in general use haveranged in diameter from three to sixteeen feet, whereas the producerswhich are herein designated assmall size have, in general, a gratediameter of not more than twelve inches.

In the copending application of Harry F. Smith, No. 398,749'dated July24, 1920, is described a form of producer adapted for the seriai no.erases.

supplying of gas for operating small size gas engines, such as are foundin the Well-known house-lighting plant, and for supplying gas fordomestic use. In the type of producer shown therein a single shell isprovided. which contains both the gas generating zone, in

which the active fuel bed is located, and the fuel reservoir, in whichfuel for a consider able period of operation is contained,

In the types of gas producers shown herein the fuel reservoir is madeseparate and distinct from the generator of the producer, the size ofthe generator thus being considerably less than in the type of producershown in the above referred to copending application. Also the fuelcontainer can be inade of considerably lighter metal than the materialof the generator. As a consequence the weight of the entire apparatus ismaterially less, a feature which is quite advantageous where theproduceris to be exported, and in addition the initial manufacturingexpense is materially decreased.

Every producer is rovided with some means for preventing eat losses fromthe fuel bed by radiation from the shell of the producer into the atmoshere. Where producers of the size hereto ore generally used,

in excess of three feet in diameter, are pro-- vided with conventionalfire brick lining, the ratio of the radiating surface of the shell tothe mass of incandescent fuel in the fuel bed is so low that theseradiation losses are not particularly objectionable, although they do ofcourse decrease the efliciency of the producer. But in a small sized gasproducer, such as illustrated and described herein, in which the gratediameter is probably not in excess of twelve inches, and some of theforms of producer shown herein having been operated successfully-withgrate diameters of four inches, the ratio betweenthe radiating surfaceof the shll and the mass of incandescent fuel in the generating chamberis so great that if the heretofore generally prevalent methods of heatinsulating lining are used the heat losses by radiation from the shellwill be so great as to not only seriously interfere with thesatisfactory operation of the producer, but to even completely preventthe operation of that producer in such wise as to make a combustiblegas. It is generally true that the greater the heat loss in a producerthe less the percentage of combustible constituent in the as, and if theheat losses become sufliciently igh the fuel may be completely consumedwithout the generation of any combustible gas at all, there beingmerelycomplete combustion of the fuel into carbon dioxide. Therefore, in thesesmall size producers the lining has been so constructed that transfer ofheat therethrough into the shell is minimized, and the grate has alsobeen so constructed that it has no direct thermal connection with theshell of the producer. As a result producers of the small size mentionedabove, constructed in accordance with the disclosure of thisapplication, will during ordinary operation show an efiiciency as high eas, or even higher than, the efliciency of t the cylin best of the largesize producers.

In the producer shown in Fig 1, however, the conventional lining isentirely dispensed with, and instead the mgoin blast is so introducedthat it absorbs the eat tending to escape from the fuel bed into theshell, and carries that heat 'back into the'fuel bed.

As illustrated the gas producer consists of a lower section 10, whichcomprisesa cylindrical shell open at its upper end; and an uppersection, comprising a cylindrical tube 11, of less diameter than theshell 10, and adapted to be positioned. within that shell, this tube,when the generator is completely assembled, containing the as eneratingchamber 12. Surrounding t e tu 11 is a circular chamber. 13, whichfunctions as a vaporizer, this chamber, upon its lower wall, beingprovided with a'circular grooved member 14, the groove in this memberbeing adapted to receive the upper end of the shell 10, suitable packing'15 being positioned therein, so that when the two are in assembledposition a tight joint is maintained to prevent leakage of air into theproducer, or of gas out from the producer. Depending from the lower wall16, of the chamber 13, is a circular flange 17, so proportioned that itwill lie within the shell 10, and be spaced a suit-able distancetherefrom. Attached to the inner wall of the shell 10 is a shelf 20,which carries an upstanding flange 21, which is smaller in diameter thanthedepending flan e 17, and is thus, when the device is assem led,ositioned between the flange 17 and drical tube 11. The construction issuch that the flange 17 extends downwardly such a distance that itterminates a short distance from the shelf 20 while the flange 21extends upwardly such a distance that it terminates a short distancebelow the bottom plate 16. "Water is supplied to the vaporizer, so as tomaintain a constant water level therein, by means of, what for purposesof description is called, a chicken feed apparatus. This apparatusconsists of a pipe 18, one end of which opens intothe lower part of thevaporizer, and the other end of which is en larged to receive the lowerend of the bottle 19, which is in turn supported in any suitable manner,as by means of the standard 23. Obviously the level of the water in thevaporizer will be dependent upon the level of the water in the pipe 18,which in turn depends upon the position of the lower end of the bottle.-And if the level of Water in the vaporizer falls, the level of the waterin the enlargement of the pipe 18 will also fall, the lower end of thebottle will be uncovered and a flow of water from the bottle into theenlargement, and through pipe 18 into the vaporizer, will take place.

Leading ofli from the vaporizer, through the upper Wall thereof is apipe 26, which opens into a nozzle 27, which may be of any suitablecharacter. This nozzle projects into the upper open end of a pipe 30,the lower end of which opens into the space between the shell 10 and thedepending flange 17.

During operation of the producer air passes in through the pipe 30, theproducer being constructed to operate under suction. At the same timethe vapor or steam generated within the vaporizer 13 passes through thenozzle 27 into the ingoing air. The amount of vapor which passes intothe air may be controlled by proper manipulation of the needle valve 28.The exactcon'struction of this nozzle 27 and needle valve 28 is notshown inasmuch as any conventional typ(ei of spray nozzle or needlevalve may be use Because of the construction described above the ingoingblast is caused to travel downwardly between the shell 10 and thedepending flange? 17, thence upwardly between the flange 17 and theflange 21 and thence downwardly again between the flange 21 and thecylindrical tube 11 into the ash pit 33, and thence through the grateinto the generating chamber, the generated producer gas passingoutwardly through the ofitake pipe 34. As the blastthus passes to theash it tit-absorbs the heat which tends to travel y conduction andradiation from the fuel bed through the tube 11 and flanges 21 and 17 tothe shell 10. Thus the heat which tends to escape from the fuel bed isabsorbed by the ingoing blast and carried back into the fuel bed sothat, in final analysis, the heat losses are as inconsequential as inthe heretofore known type of apparatus described above.

In this construction a grate 35 is provided, which consists of aperforated plate supported upon legs, and which is so arranged as to beout of thermal'connection with the shell of the producer.

In Fig. 2 is shown a modified form of producer. In this modification arecombined a lining of heat insulating material, with a construction ofthe character shown in Fig. 1, in which the ingoing-air blast is causedto absorb theheat which tends to pass from the fuel bed to the shell ofthe .producer. In this form of producer a layer of heat insulatingmaterial 50 is provided, a metallic tube 51, which may be of anysuitable metal, but is preferably of some metal which is highlyresistant to oxidation, and other chemical reactions, at hightemperatures, such a metal, for example, as some of the chromium andnickel alloys is positioned within the gas generating chamber of theproducer, and

spaced from the layer of heat insulating material. Interposed betweenthe cylindrical tube 51, and the layer of insulating material 50 is ametallic member 52, which as shown is made of cast iron andwhich isprovided with a series of inwardly extending ribs 53 so positioned thata series of circular grooves or passages 54 are provided.

The ribs 53 are so constructed that when the tube 51, and the member 52are placed in position, these ribs will contact with the tube 51, thegrooves 54 thus becoming closed passages. Each of the ribs 53 has anopening 55 therein, these openings being so arranged that they are instaggered relation. Opening into the uppermost of the passages 54 is ablast inlet pipe 60, through which the blast of air and moisture isintroduced into this uppermost groove. This producer as shown, isadapted to operate under either pressure or suction, and duringoperation the blast introduced into the uppermost passage 54 will movedownwardly from'one passage to the next, through the openings '55, itspath of travel, and,-therefore, the time during which it is brought incontact with the tube 51 being thus lengthened so that it may absorb agreater quantity of heat during its travel through these passages. Theheated blast passes out through the lowermost of the openings 55 intothe ash pit and then .upwardly'into the fuel bed, the resulting producergas passing oif through the ofl'take pipe 61. The pipe 60 shouldbeattached to some form of saturator, or apparatus in which the air forthe blast is caused to take up the proper proportion of moisture. Theprecise construction, of the saturator is not shown, since saturators ofthis character are well-known. If desired a construction similar to thatshown in Fig. 1, or a saturator such as that shown in the patent toHarry F. Smith, No. 888,359 dated May 19, 1908, which shows a saturatorwhich has Worked very satisfactorily for a number of years, can

be used.

In both the modification shown in Fig. 1 and that shown in Fig. 2 theingoing air blast as it passes into the generating chamber C5 is causedto absorb heat from the fuel bed,

bed. The ofi'take pi e may be connected to a suitable pump, or irectlyto a gas engine, in both ofwhich cases the producer will be may bepressure operated in which case a suitablepump or blower is used forforcing the blast through the generating chamber, and the fuel bedtherein, under pressure.

While the method herein described, and the forms of apparatus for.carrying this method into effect, constitute preferred embodiments ofthe invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limitedto this precise method and forms of apparatus, and that changes may bemade in either without departing from the scope of the invention whichis defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A gas producer of the character described, comprising a cylindricallower section; an upper section comprising a cylindrical tube of smallheat capacity and of less diameter than the said lower section, the saidupper section seating upon the upper end of the lower section ingas-tight contact, with the cylindrical tube thereof arranged within thelower section, coaxially therewith, and spaced from-the inner wallthereof; a cylindrical flange depending from the said upper section intothe lower section, and spaced from the "said lower section; acylindrical upstandin 'flange carried by the said lower section andextending upwardly into the space between the said depending flange andthe said tube carried by the upper section; and means for introducing ablast of air and moisture into the space between the wall of the lowersection and the depending flange carried by the upper section, wherebythe blast as it passes to the fuel bed within the tube carried by theupper section, is forced to pass in heat transferring relationdownwardly around the depending flange carried by the upper section,thence upwardly around the upstanding flange carried by the lowersection, and thence downwardly again around the tube carried by theupper section into the fuel bed, to prevent the transfer of heat fromthe fuel bed through said tube into the atmosphere. i

2. A domestic'gas producer of the character described, comprising ametallic tube of small heat capacity adapted to contain a fuel bed ofcarbonaceous material therein, a shell surrounding said tube in spacedrelation thereto and coaxially therewith, a plurality of concentricupright partitions interposed between said shell and-said tube, saidparts forming a staggered. assage about the exterior of said tube, alast inlet pipe opening at one end into said stag ered passage, theopposite end of said pipe eing open to suction operated. If desired theproducer atmosphere, a steam enerator within the upper end of the sheland surrounding said tube in heat, conducting relation therewith, awater inlet pipe for said steam generator, said water inlet pipe havingan upturned end, an inverted water container su ported with its mouthwithin said uptuine end, a nozzle directly connected to the interior ofsaid steam generator, said nozzle dischargin into the upper end of saidblast pipe, and va ve means for controlling the quantity of steampassing from the steam generator throu h said nozzle into said blastpipe, said parts eing adapted to pass the blast of air and moisture in astaggered path in heat'conducting relation around said partitions andover the outer wall of said tube as it travels to the fuel bed, toprevent the transfer of heat from the fuel bed through said tube intothe atmosphere.

3. A gas producer of the character described, comprisin a metallicshell, an inner tube spaced there rom providing a gas generatin bed 0incandescent carbonaceous material, a pluralit of concentric uprightpartitions interpose between the shell and the said tube and spacedtherefrom and from each other, the space between said tube and thepartition immediately surrounding said tube having communication withsaid gas generating chamber, and the spaces between partitions being instaggered communication with each other and in communication with saidfirst mentioned space, whereby a staggered connected passage aroundsaid. partitions is provided, water vapor generating means in heattransferring relation with said producer, an air inlet for saidproducer, and means for causin said air and water vapor to circulatethroug i said staggered passage as ittravels to the fuel bed to therebyheat said air and water Va or prior to its introduction into the fuellied Intestimony whereof I hereto afiix my signature.

HARRY F. SMITH.

chamber adapted to contain a fuel

